The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-16
SCENES AFTER THE WRECK
A FORCE OF LABORERS WORK
THROUGH THE NIGHT
At the Place Of the Disaster-Specu
latlOns IS to the Cause OF
The Accident.
REVISED LISTS OF THE DEAD
AND WOUNDED.
ia Persons We're IBjured-Crowds
OF Curious Spectators Kept
Back by Policemen.

night long force OF labcrere WAS en-
gsged in clearing up the debris OF the
wrecked cara at the scene OF the
bridge disaster. 1t was slow work and
but little headwsy was made, yet the
men worked hard, and when the
mornings light was sufficient for the
continuation OF the work without the
means of artificial light the work
progressed more rapidly. An engine
pulled the forward car from the EN-
bankment TO the track, where 1t re.
mains, one end resting upon the
ground while the forward trucks are
still attached. Strewn along the south
ern emb2nkment are quantities OF Car
seats, ratings, iron braces, window
panes and doors which had been
gathered from the debris and which
were loaded upon fat cars this mora
ing and brought to the city. A large
force Of policemen guarded the scene
and kept the curious from entering
the lines, and thus the laborers had
sufficient opportunity to carry On Their
labor unimpeded. Ropes were
stretched along the trsck, and all per-
sons who were not actively engaged In
clearing the track we're forced to keep
outside the lines.
At an early hour this morning, more
laborerB reinforced the tired men who
had swung the sx and pulled and
tugged on doors and other portions OF
the wrecked cars, and q large force
was put at work in taking the broken
bridge apart. The baggage car and
one OF the reer cars OF the train had
been completely demolished and all
that marks the spot. where these two
cars were at the base Of the embank-
ment, ia q heap Of kiudling wood,
some Of which has the appearance OF
having been through grain hopper
and bolted, 30 fine was the wood
crushed. The wreck is a more APP
palling sight than the recent ruins al
White River Junction and Deeifeld,
and this points strongly TO the fact
that the train was running at speed
of fully twenty-five miles an hour.
The forward cars, which lie on the
embsnkment and in the roadway, re-
main in the same positions as when
they fell. There were undoubtedly
nine cars in the train, az the tin tops
OF nine cars are to be found, but tie
remains OF two OF the cars are In such
q state OF demolition that 1t is impos.
sible to discern whether there were
two cars or one. This was caused by
the fall down the embankment and
conBe quently the rumor has prevailed
that there were but eight cars in
the train. Several OF the stoves OF
the cars have been removed and in
every case the iron rods which serve
to hold them in position have been
found to be secure, while not a stove
door was burst open, although one
stove was badly broken. AT an early
hour this morning there began TO bs
a constant stream OF visitors to the
scene, and before o'clock several
hundred p ersons had looked upon the
irightiul evidences OF the disaster
Everybody who visited the scene car.
ried away portions OF the wreckage az
mementoes. At 10 o'clock Railroad
Commissioner Kinsley arrived on ths
scene and made detour OF the en-
bankments with view to investigst.
ing the cause OF the accident. Chief
Engineer Davis, of the Boston and
Providence railroad, says II is impos-
sible to tell when the wreckage can be
sufficiently removed to allow the cree
ton of a structure which will allow oil
the resumption of traffic over that
route. A permanent bridge will then
be constructed and laid when the
company tind 1t convenient to do So
The preparations for the temporary
bridge are being pushed with all pos
sible speed. Traffic will be resumed
very shortly, but further than this, II
is impossible to state. Up to the pres
ent tlme-1:9 O'Clock p.m.-.here
have been no reports received OF deaths
in addition 10 those given last night
Prof. Vose, Of the destitute Of Tech.
nolopy, one of the most competent
bridge engineers in New England, in
an interview says: ~ was at the
scene Of the accident all day yester.
day, together with number OF mem.
bers OF the Massachusetts, Scientific
Society and Institute stud9nts, exam
lining the bridge, or rather the piers
thereof, and don't know the exact
cause Of the accident / would not
dare venture an opinion, can only
say that have examined pieces OF the
iron and have an idea that some were
defective. However, do not wish to
condemn anyone until the truth is
known. The railroad officers have
given US permission TO bring into the
city all pieces OF the bridge, an exam.
inalion Of which, l think, will give
some light on the cause Of the disaster.
/ am now going to find out, if possib Q,
Just what the cause Of the accident
Was"
Prof. Swain, also of the institute,
who made an examination OF the
wrecked bridge, discovered what he
considers 10 have been the cause OF
the accident. He thinks there were
serious defects in some portions Of the
bridge, not only In the material used,
but in the manner OF construction.
Superintsnd mt Davis, in on inter-
view this morning, said: "The many
stories floating about aud now being
published as to the 81 fety OF the Busy
bridge are, t. say the least, very dis
Creditable as coming from an intelli.
g7nt public. They are utterly with
out foundation, and come from per-
SONS who really know nothing about
it, but who are willing for the sake Of
appearing wise to damage the repu
tation and standing Of any concern,
whether Ii be railroad corporation OF
anything else. The bridge wss built
OF irol eleven years ago, and was as
fully cap lble Of sustaining any weight
thst has been put upon II since that
time as any bridge on the road. The
bridge inspector OF the road has had
no reason whatever to suspect or be
lieve that there was any defect OF
weakness in any part Of the bridge.
He is as thoroughly capable and con.
vereant with such matters as any man
in the country ard inspectJ all the
bridges on the read, this one as wei
as the otheye, three or four times I
year, and had made recent and close
examination Of this particular bridge
He was not aware up TO the time O
the accident OF any weakness or deieo
whatever. understand that severa
o.her competent mechanics examined
Al a, r,,i,a vrarf rdaw and 20 g. -. : A